Syria opens Assad-era nuclear programme to UN probe

UN watchdog reports that it found large amounts of material at undisclosed sites in Syria.Published On 18 Aug 202618 Aug 2026Syria has opened the way for the United Nations to probe the remains of a nuclear programme operated by ousted leader Bashar al-Assad.Syria’s government said on Tuesday that it was working with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) as the UN watchdog reported it had found several tonnes of nuclear material at a site in Damascus.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3Syria to give IAEA access to suspected former nuclear sites: Reportlist 2 of 3UN watchdog finds uranium at alleged Syrian nuclear site from al-Assad eralist 3 of 3What the Trump-Iran agreement says about Lebanon, Hormuz and uraniumend of listSyria had reported the site to the IAEA last month. The material found was not dangerous and will remain in Syrian custody, subject to guarantees, Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani said.Since the fall of the Assad regime in late 2024, Syria’s authorities have committed to working with the IAEA to address the legacy of nuclear activities carried out during the decades of Assad family rule.The IAEA inspectors visited two sites, one in Deir ez-Zur...